AntiTrust

Just as an update to this. I tried the new monitor with a display port and all working normally. I am hesitant to even try the HDMI again unless it breaks something, so for the time being I'll leave this thread as is. Thanks!

I simply use my stuff.  Like above, gaming stress tests your system to the degree you need it to.  Overdoing things can introduce failure points that would never be hit otherwise, as evidenced by every freaking comment about Furmark.  Even EVGA tech support says Furmark is damaging.
 
No one here takes their new Camry to the track, or tries to tow a camper, takes it offroad, or loads 6 people and 500lbs in the trunk... stress testing is just nerd talk for nerds 🙂
 
Or any other part in their house, tools or otherwise.  Stress testing ONLY your PC cuz nerds.
 
Edit:  I say it with a lot of love cuz I've been a nerd for 48 years now 🙂
 

Are you using the 2080 from your signature? If so, the 2000 lineup doesn't support HDMI 2.1, so the max you can do is 4k60hz, try to see if this works.

Your title should be "Massively 1st world problem."
 
Jokes aside, you might just have a defective cable. It should work. I'd just return it and get another one. If that doesn't work, then I'd look at other cable options, but there's no reason to be spending $100 on one.

check with bequiet for warranty, are you sure its dead? do you hear anything when its plugged in? I thought my aio was dead once, but it just had an air bubble in the pump. EVGA cust service told me to just shake it very hard and plug it back in and its worked since. after that I changed how my AIO was instaleld to prevent air bubbles. 

download GPU-Z, start up a game and record what the perfcap reason is and post results here. will give you an indication what is limiting the performance of your gpu (thermals etc)
 
 

not really I use arctic MX4 for most everything and it works well enough. for your use case, I would just stick to a standard paste - the noctua stuff is likely pretty good.
 
I think in tests thermal grizzly kryonaut is considered the best,

not really I use arctic MX4 for most everything and it works well enough. for your use case, I would just stick to a standard paste - the noctua stuff is likely pretty good.
 
I think in tests thermal grizzly kryonaut is considered the best,

I might do it anyways, but appreciate the effort you put into your post. it is great to know there is a bit less risk in doing it with my 8700k 

But as others said, it's cheap insurance. I wasn't sure which were nonconductive so I just didn't use any.

just go to the nerby dolar store and buy it for a dollar better safe than sorry.....

I didn't. The 8700k and other S desktop chips don't really have much going on there, so small risk of components shorting if you don't overuse LM. It's more a concern with Intel HEDT chips. I've had my 8700k delidded without nail polish (or any real adhesive) for going on 4 years.
 

 
Vs
I9-7980XE

 
 

if you are very sure of what you are doing you can get away without it but its really unnecessary risk for how cheap nail polish is.
 
You can use anything that has no glitter in it, most people use a clear one.

Holy freakin titty monkey! I figured out what was wrong. And no, the Silverstone FX350G runs it just fine. 
 
Anyways! I changed the PCI-E con figuration from Auto -> Gen2
 
Like what the hell!? Shouldn't the bios know what mode to use. It didn't have this issue with the 1660s being set to auto. But thanks for the suggestions!

You can use any GPU you want. Some stuff yeah you'll be bottlenecked by your CPU, but you'd also be way beyond 144fps at that point, so you wouldn't even be able to notice. 
 
I wouldn't worry about a whole lot. That being said, an AMD card like a 6700XT will be faster with an older CPU like the 2600:
 
Nvidia Has a Driver Overhead Problem, GeForce vs Radeon on Low-End CPUs - YouTube

Please see section 0 here: https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/how-to-connect-to-a-120-hz-display.3268285/

700$ is a very tight budget.
Best I could think of last year Lenovo IdeaPad model:
https://www.newegg.com/black-lenovo-gaming-3-82ey002bus/p/2WC-000J-00TR2

 
Should be adequate for your use-case.
 
 
 
 

I'd go with the 870 EVO.
There's no NVME drives?

cyber power should have a customer support phone # maybe try that instead of emails. 
 
if you are comfortable checking inside the computer, make sure that your ram is seated securely 
 
 

can we pin this post, I want to treasure it forever 

can we pin this post, I want to treasure it forever 

Silence should be more valued than low temperatures. I don't care if my R9 280 runs at 85C or 25C. What I do care about is how loud it is.

That is going to be difficult as all GPU's are over their normal price right now.
If you can, look for a RX 570/580, 1050Ti/1060 (3G or 6G).
Else than that, I really do not know, only idea that falls on my mind is a GTX 970.

Don't ever buy a NEW gpu with that budget right now.
You'll endup with mediocre gpu like 1050 / ti, which is not worth it.
Get a used gpu like RX470/480/570/580 or gtx 1060 / 970.
4gb is not a problem, since 6/8gb will be very expensive to have.

corsair AIO's are pretty good and RGB make sure it will fit your case